A driver under the influence of alcohol, who caused the death of a charitable cyclist and subsequently buried his body in a shallow grave on a secluded Scottish estate, has
been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Alexander McKellar, aged 31, was driving at an excessive speed when he collided with 63-year-old Tony Parsons, leaving him fatally injured on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy in September 2017.
McKellar and his twin brother Robert later concealed Mr. Parsons' body. It wasn't until three years later that the victim's remains were discovered.
Robert McKellar received a prison sentence of five years and three months.
Alexander McKellar pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, while both brothers admitted to obstructing the course of justice.
Mr. Parsons was last seen alive in September 2017. Mr. Parsons' body was interred in a shallow grave on the Auch Estate, close to Bridge of Orchy in the southern Highlands, in September 2017.
The discovery did not occur until Alexander McKellar confided in his girlfriend and led her to the burial site.
Mr. Parsons, a grandfather from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, had gone missing during a 104-mile (167 km) charity cycling event from Fort William back to his hometown. He had previously battled prostate cancer and embarked on the ride to raise funds for charity as a way to "give something back."
Authorities were aware that he passed through Glencoe Village around 18:00 before proceeding to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel in Argyll.
Police inquiries into the case of the cyclist killed by a driver The driver who guided his girlfriend to the cyclist's grave Driver confesses to causing cyclist's death and burying the body His last confirmed sighting was at the hotel at 23:30 on that night, after which he headed south on the A82 toward Tyndrum.
Despite appeals about his whereabouts, no leads emerged, rendering his disappearance an enigma.
In the subsequent years, extensive searches were conducted for the former naval officer, involving local mountain rescue teams, volunteers, Police Scotland canine units, and the force's air support unit.
Numerous police appeals were made, and CCTV footage capturing some of his last known movements was released. The case also garnered attention on the BBC's Crimewatch program.
Following the guilty pleas from the McKellar twins in the previous month, the court was informed that on the day of the incident, they had dined and consumed alcohol with a hunting group at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel.
As Alexander McKellar was driving back to the Auch Estate, where the brothers were employed as farm workers, he struck Mr. Parsons. He refrained from seeking any medical assistance.
The court learned that the cyclist's injuries were so severe that he would have survived for only 20 to 30 minutes without intervention.
Afterwards, the twins departed the scene and returned with another vehicle to transport Mr. Parsons' body to the Auch Estate, where they buried him.
His body remained undiscovered for three years until 2020, when Alexander McKellar guided his ex-girlfriend to the shallow grave.
It was revealed in court that without her revelation, Mr. Parsons' body might never have been found.
The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) is currently scrutinizing Police Scotland's handling of the investigation. The PIRC is investigating "allegations of criminality" following a complaint by Mr. McKellar's ex-girlfriend against the police.
Although she was meant to be a pivotal witness in the case, she did not appear in court. Photo by A82 near Glen Orchy by Steven Brown, Wikimedia commons.